Empathic Leadership: Bottom Line Impact

Empathy has always been a critical skill for leaders, but it is taking on a new level of meaning and priority as new research demonstrates its importance for everything from innovation to retention. Writing in Forbes, Tracy Brower PhD, author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work, says that empathy is the most important leadership competency to develop and demonstrate. 

Leaders will be most successful not just when they consider others, but when they inquire directly about employee challenges, and then listen to and paraphrase what they hear. The results?  According to a new study by Catalyst these can include:

• Innovation. When people reported their leaders were empathic, 61% were more likely to say they were able to be innovative, compared to only 13% of employees with less empathic leaders.
• Engagement. 76% of people who experienced empathy from their leaders said they were engaged compared to 32% who experienced less empathy.
• Retention. 57% of white women and 62% of women of color said they were unlikely to think of leaving their companies when they felt their life circumstances were respected and valued by their companies.
• Inclusivity. 50% of people with empathic leaders reported their workplace was inclusive, compared with only 17% of those with less empathic leadership.
• Work-Life. When people felt their leaders were more empathic, 86% reported they are able to navigate the demands of their work and life—compared with 60% of those who perceived less empathy.

Does your performance improve when you experience your leader as empathic? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

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